Gang-plank.



A. KELEMEN & s. LKZAiR.

GANG PLANK. APPLIUATION FILED JULY 15. 1909.

Patentd Ma'y 31, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

is w whwooeo A. KELEMEN 6; S. LAZAR.

Patented May 31, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 21 ii'rwentow A. KE LEMEN & s. LKZAR.

, GANG PLANK.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 15. 1909. 960,022, Patented May 31, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ANDREW KELEMEN AND STEPHEN LAZAR," OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

GANG-PLANK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 15, 1909. Serial No. 507,767.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ANDREW KELEMEN and STEPHEN LAZAR, subjects of theKing of Hungary, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGang-Planks, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to gang-planks, and the invention has for itsprimary object to provide a foldable or collapsible gang-plank, that canbe easily extended to provide safe passage of a person from the deck ofa vessel to the wharf or vice versa.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gang-plank constructedon the principle of lazy tongs, the various planks being easily andcompactly folded when the gangplank is not in use, and quickly extendedand adjusted to place the planks in position to be traversed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a collapsiblegang-plank that can be easily used upon a ship deck for landing persons,or upon a wharf for loading persons, and the gang-plank can also beusede; as a draw bridge in connection with small streams and canals. g

The above objects are attained by a strong and durable structure thathas been particularly designed for a ship deck, particularly cruisingships and river boats, that have wharves and landing places that do notal- 36 ways conform to the unloading or discharge passage of a boat orship, it often being necessary to place a gang-plank at such aninclination that the same cannot be safely ascended or descended, Thisis particularly 40 true in connection with river boats using gang-plankswithout railings.

In constructing our improved gang-plank, we have made provision 'foradjusting the same longitudinally and vertically,-whe'reby it will notbe necessary fora boat to run any danger of rounding by moving too farin shore to lea vor unload passengers. The gang-plank can also be usedto an advantage at sea in transferring passengers. from one boat toanother, irrespective of the size'of the boats.

The invention will be hereinafter considered in detail and then claimed,and reference will now be had to the drawings forming a part of thisspecification, wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe arms consisting 1 invention, but it is to be understood that thestructural elements thereof can be varied or changed, as to the size,shape and manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gang-plank in'- anextended elevated position in full lines, and in an extended and loweredosition in dotted lines, Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectionalview of a portion of the same, Fig. 3 is a similar view'showin a portionof the gangplank collapsed or olded, Fig. 4 is a plan of one of theplanks, and Fig. 5 is an elevzlitigp of a lock, forming partof the gangpa In the drawings, 1 denotes a boat deck or wharf landing for ahorizontal revoluble platform 3, said platform being provided withanti-friction rollers or wheels 4, permitting of the platform beingeasily swung in a horizontal lane, whereby the gangplank can be usedfrom either side of a boat deck or wharf landing.

Patented May 31, 1910.

5 denotes vertical parallel standards carried by the platform 3, and'revolubly mounted 1n said standards is a transverse shaft 6 having thatportion thereof between 12 denotes toothed sectors loosely mounted uponthe shaft 6 at the inner sides of the standards 5. The sectors 12. areadapted to mesh with pinions 13 mounted u ona transverse shaft 14,journaled in tilting bars 15, mounted on the shaft 6 between thestandards 5 and the sectors 12, Thestepped end 10 of the plank 8" isprovided with bearings 16 for the shaft 14, and said shaft at the sidesof the plank 8 is provided with disks 17, to shield the pinions 13 frompersons walking upon the plank 8;

18 denotes lazy tong links 1pivotally connected to the upper ends of t ebars 15, as at 19, and 20 denotes lazy ton links pivotally connected tothe lower en s of the sectors 12, as at- 21. The links 18 and 20 arepivotally connected together by a transverse axle 22, and these.linksform the main support for two parallel lazy tong' arms, the oflinks .23, similar to the links 18, and nks 24 similar to the links 20,said links being pivotally connected intermediate their ends bytransverse axles 25, and their ends pivotally connected together bybolts 26 and 27.

28 denotes planks pivotally connected to stirrups 29 suspended frombolts 27, said planks having the rear ends thereof fixed to the axles22v and 25... The outerends of the planks 28 are provided withconnecting hooks 30 similar to the hooks 9, while the rear ends of saidplanks are provided with sockets 31 adapted to receive the connectinghooks 9 and 30 when the planks longitudinally aline. As shown in Figs. 3and 4 of the drawings, the planks 8 and28 are preferably made ofrectangular frames provided with transverse slats 32, to provide surefooting, as well as the rapid removal of dirt and water that mightaccumulate upon va gang-plank. The links 23 at the outer ends of thelazy tong arms have the lower ends thereof provided with steps 32supported by the axle 25, and a transverse pin 33 connecting the lowerends of the links 23. The pin 33- adjacent to the links 23- is providedwith revoluble rollers 34, whereby the outer end of the ang-plank can beeasily moved over a sur ace, as. a ship deck or wharf landing. I

To provide a railing forthe gang-plank, the links 18 and 23 are providedwith angula r extensions 35, and these. extensions are p1v0tallyconnected to links 36, which are pivotally connected together, as at 37.The outermost links 36 are connected to the outermost links 24, whilethe innermostdinks 36 connect the links 18 with the upper ends of thesectors 12, as at 38.

The lazy tong arms of the gang-plank are adjusted by moving the sectors12 through the medium of the pinions 13, and this is accomplished byproviding the shaft 14 with rectangular ends 39 forcranks .40.Byrotating the cranks 40, the sectors 12 can be swung to open or closethe gang-plank.

The mechanism employed for raising and lowering the outer end of thegang-plank comprisestoothed pitmen 41 pivotally con-.

nected to the lower curved ends 42 of the bars 15, thepitmenextending uwardly between anti-friction rollers-43 an pinions 44,

said pinions meshing with the, teeth of the pitmen. -The anti-frictionrollers 43 are revolubly mounted upon a transverse shaft 45 connectingthe standards 5, while the-pinions 44rare mounted upon a transverseshaft 46 journaled in the standards 5. One. end of the shaft 46 isprovided with a large wheel 47 meshing with a small gear whee 48 mountedupon a shaft :49, journaled-in one ofthe standards 5, and the brackets,50 car riedbyfsaid standard.- A crank51 is-fitted upon the end of theshaft 49 for rotating the.

gear wheels 47 and 48 to raise and 'lower the pitmen 41;

To lock thepitrnenin an adjusted-posiscopes tion, the bracket 50 isprovided with a lock, comprising a spring pressed pawl 52, movablymounted in bearings 53 carried by the inner side of the bracket 50. Thepawl is adapted to engage the gear wheel 48, and prevent said gear wheelfrom rotating. The outer end of the pawl is bent, as at 54, to engage anend of the bracket 50 and retain the pawl out of engagement with thegear wheel 48. lVhen the end of the pawl is disengaged. from thebracket, a sprin 55 encircling said pawl is adapted to retain he pawl inengagement with the gear wheel 48.

In order that the pitmen 41 can be adjusted, the standards 5 areprovided with segment-shaped slots 56, these slots being described witha radius having for its center the shaft 6, so that irrespective of theposition of the bars 15, the shaft 14 can be rotated to open or closethe gang-plank.

In connection with the plank 8, we provide a detachable stairway" 57having the upper end thereof provided with a connecting hook 58 toengage in the socket 11 of the plank S. The lower end of this stairwayis supported by a revoluble wheel 59, and the stairway is provided witha suitable railing 60.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the gangplankcan be easily opened and closed, and when in an open position adjustedwhereby the outer 'end of the gang-plank will be supported either in avraised or lowered position relative to the plank 8, allowing passengerseither to ascend or descend with perfect safety.

The gang-plank can be advantageously used as. a draw bridge inconnectionwith canals and such bodies of water where it is impossible to maintaina permanent structure, and by suitably anchoring the revoluble. platform3, the gang-plank or draw bridge can be made of considerable length.

Having now described our invention What we claim as new, is z 1. A gangplank, comprising-standards, a shaft journaled in said standards, a.lank' fixed to said shaftbetween said stan ards, toothed sectors looselymounted 'upon said shaft, bars fixed uponsaid shaft, lazy-ton armsconnecting with said .bars and said toothed sectors, planks arrangedbetween said arms and adapted to aline with the first mentioned plank,collapsible railings supported: by said arms and connecting-with saidtoothed sectors, means carried by said bars for moving'said toothedsectors, and means arranged between said standards for Iri'aising andlowering the lower ends of said ars.

2. A gang-plank comprising standards, a shaft journaled in.saidstandards, a plank fixed to said shaft between said standards,toothed sectors loosely mounted upon said shaft, bars fixediupon saidshaft, lazy ton arms connectingwith said bars and sai toothed sectors,planks, arranged between said arms and adapted to aline with the firstmentioned plank, collapsible railings supported by said arms andconnecting with said toothed sectors, means carried by said bars formoving said toothed sectors, means arranged between said standards forraising and lowering the lower ends of said bars.

3. A gang-plank comprising a revoluble platform, standards carried bysaid platform, a shaft journaled in said standards, a plank fixed uponsaid shaft between said standards, toothed sectors loosely mounted uponsaid shaft, a shaft journaled in the lower ends of said bars, pinionsmounted upon said shaft and meshing with said toothed sectors, lazy tongarms connecting with said sectors and said bars, movable plankssupported between said arms and adapted to longitudinally aline, acollapsible railing supported by said arms and connecting with saidsectors, toothed pitmen connecting with the lower ends of said bars,revoluble pinions supported between said standards and meshing with saidtoothed sectors, means for revolving said pinions, and means for lockingthe last mentioned means in a closed position.

4. 'A gang-plank comprising a revoluble platform, standards carried bysaid platform, a shaft journaled in. said standards, a plank fixed uponsaid shaft between said standards, toothed sectors loosely mounted uponsaid shaft, bars fixed upon said shaft, a shaft journaled in the lowerends of said bars, pinions mounted upon said shaft and meshing with saidtoothed sectors, lazy tong arms connecting with said sector and saidbar, movable planks supported between said arms and adapted tolongitudinally aline, means for connecting the ends of said planks, acollapsible railing supported by said arms and connecting with saidsectors, toothed pitmen connecting with the lower ends of said bars,revoluble pinions supported between said standards and meshing with saidtoothed pitmen, means for revolving said pinions, and means for lockingthe last mentioned means in a fixed position.

5. A gang-plank comprising a revoluble platform, standards carried bysaidplatform, a shaft journaled in said standards, a plank fixed uponsaid shaft between said standards, toothed sectors loosely mounted uponsaid shaft, bars fixed upon said shaft,

a shaft journaled in the lower ends of said bars, pinions mounted uponsaid shaft and meshing with said toothed sectors, lazy tong armsconnecting with said sectors and said bars, movable planks supportedbetween said arms and adapted to longitudinally aline, means forconnecting the ends of said planks, a collapsible railing supported bysaid arms and connecting with said sectors, toothed pitmen connectingwith the lower ends ofsaid bars, revoluble pinions supported betweensaid standards and meshing with said toothed pitmen, means for revolvingsaid pinions, means for locking the last mentioned means in a fixedposition, and a stairway adapted to connect with the first mentionedplank.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

' ANDREW KELEMEN.

STEPHEN LAZAR.

